Travelling with rack gear?

[Hud]

What's the best way to travel with rack gear (and should some gear really just stay put)?

I recently travelled with some audio visual gear and had some issues. The gear wasn't mine so I didn't choose how to pack it. For flat screens, the cheapest best option was to use original foam packing and boxes. BUT there was a racked amplifier in its own abs plastic flight case. After half a dozen flights around the country with qantas, the amplifier needed a couple things soldered back into place.

I guess I'm looking at what to do when on commercial airlines. I think a lot of case solutions are built for bands taking buses or vans, (or the odd private jet), but in each case there's someone handling the equipment who knows what it is. I'm wondering what's qantas-proof.

Is the original foam packing always best? Would you travel with your converters, or anything with VU meters..

Thanks

[GlennS]

Back when I did a lot of work for Showfreight I used to see a lot of shock proof roadcases come through on international tours, particularly for recording equipment.
Just did a quick google search & found this: http://www.giggear.com.au/product.php?productid=16555

Cheers,
G

[Hud]

Thanks for that mate
Pretty solid example of what I was thinking of.
The case itself weighs 19kg! It'd hurt a little in terms of excess baggage weight, I guess that's the cost of security

[Text_Edifice]

depends what you're travelling with - I've taken a rack of pres and a distressor through asia in a suitcase (packed really really well), but that was of necessity as I couldn't find anything else of a suitable profile that I could take as carry on.

I believe gator does a 2ru + laptop sleeve 'soft' case that might do the job too.

Biggest problem I had was having to pull everything out at Sydney airport and explain what the gear was. Fortunately I'd given my wife a guitar and the security guards were much friendlier once they realised I was with the muso chick...

[Hud]

Hey thanks for that suggestion by the way. I might eventually get something like the Gator case. The main unit I'm worried about hasn't even arrived yet, so I have time to sort myself out.

Also, I'll soon be experimenting with packing solutions for my more portable stuff like mics, and a DAV BG1. Getting some pre-scored foam, see what I can do with either cardboard, plywood, or other...

I am starting to think carry on is generally the way to go though. Well, for my sitch anyway

[Text_Edifice]

the other, much more expensive and heavy-ish, way to do it is get a pelican case (or similar). Those things are just-about-everything-proof and could be checked in if needed.

[rob]

As someone who almost on a daily basis is packing audio gear up for shipping around the country, indeed the planet, here's my two top tips.

Never ship gear bolted into a rack case. It is irrelevent how strong the case is, once you've screwed the rack mount unit into the case, every single jolt, vibration and shock is transferred directly to the unit. My observation of couriers is that the more robust the case / box looks the worse they'll handle it. The only time a road case with units mounted into it can be a good idea is when you have control over how it is handled and preferably have it so heavy that it can't be lifted, dropped or tossed into a truck, but requires ramps, tailgates or wheels.
Shock absorbsion is the key... peanuts, bubblewrap, foam or newspaper scrunches at worst. If you have a road case, unmount the unit and pack it into place with shock absorbing material.

The other thing to always keep in mind are rack ears....these stick out and are the most likely candidate for damage. Try and ensure that all four corners of the rack ears are at least a few centimeters from the sides of the box ..... in all three dimensions!

Where possible these days I would typically 'float' a standard rack mount unit is a sea of peanuts or bubblewrap of around 5cm all around, top, bottom, sides, front and rear. I've also finally found a source of heavy duty doubled wall cartons that suit rack dimensions.

Never the less at the end of the day, no matter what you do, there is a courier out there who will bust your best packaging.